But the idea of creating a business plan seems overwhelming to some and outdated to others. When everything in business changes so quickly, is a business plan really necessary anymore?

Absolutely! Remember, the planning, not the plan, makes the difference, and that contributes to your eventual success. Developing a business plan is a great framework for thinking through the fundamentals of your company; understanding your market, competition and industry; and identifying a sustainable strategic position.

When I decided on the title "Successful Business Plan: Secrets & Strategies" for my first book, a step-by-step business-plan guide, I clearly intended for the adjective "successful" to apply to the word "business." In other words, this is a guide to help you develop a successful business, not just create a plan.

I'm proud that the book has helped more than a million entrepreneurs launch businesses and has become the best-selling business-plan guide in America since it was first published in 1991. Translated into more than 30 languages, it's used in more than 1,000 business schools.

But things have changed since it was first published — and business plans need to change along with them. Just released in its sixth edition the book, "Successful Business Plan: Secrets & Strategies" offers the most up-to-date guidance available. I guide you through steps to launch a successful business and get financed. And you need to consider so many new details.

• Crowd-funding. Learn to use this recently developed fund-raising method to launch new companies, create new products and develop an avid customer base. Find out which businesses have the most success with it and when to use it.

• The Lean Start-Up movement. Leverage new technologies and streamlined processes to get your business up and running with fewer dollars.

• Minimum viable product. Find ways to get to market faster. With customers increasingly willing to accept Version 1.0 qualities in many products, it's important to learn how to expedite.

• The Cloud. Gain powerful technological capabilities with fewer costs and greater ease of use than with in-house computer servers.

• Sample PowerPoint. See a slide-by-slide guide on what investors want in a quick overview of your business.

• Graphics. Flesh out your concepts with infographics to help others grasp business issues easily.

Rhonda Abrams is president of the Planning Shop and publisher of books for entrepreneurs. Her most recent book is "Entrepreneurship: A Real-World Approach." Register for Rhonda's free newsletter at Planning Shop.com Twitter: @RhondaAbrams